M15 Globular Cluster in Pegasus
with 10" f/3.9 Astrograph
Uploaded 9/5/23

 

            
This bright globular
            cluster in Pegasus is know for its intensely brilliant core region,
            countless tens of thousands of colorful stars, and of course
            is one of only a few known globulars with a planetary nebula
            amonst its stars. (Pease 1). This was a test shot to confirm
            a new backup autoguiding camera with a smaller chip (ASI120mm)
            would be set up for times when the main guiding camera either
            failed or was lost. It did fine, and I was able to get a nice
            shot of this object as well.

            
Two versions are shown
            here. The first, is a standard RGB combination showing stars,
            target, and background galaxies. The second image below has had
            all the stars more or less removed, and suddenly you can now
            see the remaining bright galaxies much easier. There are at least
            half a dozen nice small galaxies here in this field, none were
            obvious in the original image. I put arrows on them so you can
            tell which galaxies I can see.

            


            
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Instrument:  10" f/3.9 Orion Astrograph Newtonian with Baader MPCC
Mount:  Astrophysics 1200 QMD
CCD Camera:  ATIK 16200 
Guider: ASI120  w/80mm WO Zenithstar 81 piggyback refractor
Exposure:  1 hours RGB
Astronomik  RGB Combine Ratio:  1: .9: 1.5
Location:  Payson, Arizona, Elevation:  5150 ft.
Sky:  Seeing FWHM = 3 arcsec , Transparency 9/10
Outside Temperature:  75 F
CCD Temperature:  -20 C
Image Processing Tools: 
Maxim DL6:  Calibration, PixInsight:  All Remaining processing, Photoshop CS2: Production finishing 

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